STRUGGLE &
SOLIDARITY

Labor Strikes in Memphis (1968–Present)

By Kevin Bradshaw

© 2026 Kevin Bradshaw. All Rights Reserved.

Dedication

To the sanitation workers of 1968 who stood and declared

"I AM A MAN"

And to every worker — past, present, and future — who refuses to accept injustice and continues the fight for dignity, fairness, and respect.

Special Dedication

To my loving wife, Avice Bradshaw,

Thank you for being my strength, my peace, and my foundation. Through every long meeting, every late night, every early morning on the picket line, and every challenge that comes with fighting for working people — you have been there. Your love, patience, and unwavering support have carried me through this journey in the labor movement.

To my family — thank you for your constant encouragement, your understanding, and your sacrifice. Because of you, I have been able to stand strong for others.

"Behind every strong leader is a strong foundation — and mine is my family."

In Honor of Memphis Legends

This book is also dedicated to the memory of great leaders who paved the way:

State Representative Barbara Cooper

Judge D'army Bailey

Bishop E. Lynn Brown

Lorenzo Banks — 1968 Sanitation Striker

Reverend Dwight Montgomery

Virgie Banks

Casel Jones

David Dortch

And so many others whose names may not be written here — but whose impact lives on

"We stand on their shoulders — and we carry their fight forward."

About the Author

Kevin Bradshaw is a Memphis-based labor leader, organizer, and advocate for workers' rights. He has worked extensively with unions and community organizations across the Mid-South, helping to advance worker protections, labor education, and collective bargaining rights. His work bridges traditional labor organizing with modern tools — empowering workers with knowledge, resources, and a unified voice.

Foreword

Memphis, Tennessee, stands as one of the most important cities in the history of the American labor movement. From the fight for dignity in 1968 to today's battles for fair wages, union recognition, and worker justice, Memphis workers have continuously stood on the frontlines.

This book documents the major labor strikes, the leaders behind them, their goals, and the victories that shaped Memphis and the nation.

Memphis has always been a city where the fight for justice shows itself clearly. From the sanitation workers who declared "I AM A MAN" to today's workers demanding fairness and respect — the fight continues.

— Kevin Bradshaw

Chapter 1

The 1968 Sanitation Strike — The Defining Moment

The 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike is the foundation of modern labor rights in Memphis — and one of the most important labor events in American history.

Over 1,300 Black sanitation workers walked off the job after years of dangerous working conditions, poverty wages, and a total lack of respect. The immediate trigger was the deaths of Echol Cole and Robert Walker, who were crushed to death by a malfunctioning garbage truck — an incident that exposed the deadly reality workers faced every day.

The strike lasted 65 days, drawing national attention and ultimately bringing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis. His assassination on April 4, 1968, while supporting the strikers, transformed the struggle into a landmark moment connecting the labor movement with the civil rights movement forever.

Key Leaders

T. O. Jones — Strike leader and organizer

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — National voice who elevated the struggle

James Lawson — Strategic organizer of nonviolent protest

William Lucy — National union support and the "I AM A MAN" message

Goals

Union recognition (AFSCME Local 1733)

Safer working conditions

Fair wages and overtime pay

Dignity and respect on the job

Accomplishments

Union recognition achieved

Wage increases and improved safety standards

National attention linking labor rights with civil rights

Sparked broader labor organizing across the United States

"Workers united can change systems rooted in inequality."

Chapter 2

Rise of Public Sector Union Power (1970s–1990s)

After the victory of 1968, Memphis saw a steady rise in organized labor among city workers. The success of the sanitation strike inspired public sector employees across departments to organize, negotiate contracts, and demand fair treatment.

This era institutionalized the gains of 1968. Unions expanded into city government, education, and public services. Workers gained formal collective bargaining rights, grievance procedures, job security, and benefits including pensions and healthcare.

Leaders like William Lucy continued to mentor the next generation, while local AFSCME organizers fought contract battles with the City of Memphis to protect worker interests and expand union membership.

Key Leaders

William Lucy

Local AFSCME and public sector union organizers

Accomplishments

Expansion of union membership across public sector

Stronger labor contracts with the city

Institutionalization of grievance procedures

Foundation laid for modern labor organizing

Chapter 3

Modern Labor Struggles (2000–Present)

Memphis continues to be a center of labor resistance — and the struggles have expanded far beyond sanitation into every corner of the economy. From waste management to coffee shops, from telecom lines to factory floors, Memphis workers are still organizing, still fighting, and still winning.

Teamsters Local 667 vs. Republic Services

Led by: James Jones — President of Teamsters Local 667

Teamsters Local 667 workers engaged in strike actions against Republic Services over low wages, workplace safety concerns, lack of respect, and benefits issues. Workers organized picket lines across Memphis, held public demonstrations, and gained community support — echoing the spirit of 1968.

Key Issues:

Low wages compared to industry standards

Workplace safety concerns

Benefits and healthcare issues

Lack of respect and fair treatment

Outcome: Elevated public awareness, strengthened solidarity among Teamsters members, and pressured corporate leadership to address worker concerns.

Starbucks Workers United

Led by: Starbucks Workers United organizers

The rise of unionization at Starbucks marked a major shift in labor organizing, especially among young workers in the service industry. Memphis locations became part of a national movement proving that unions are not just for industrial jobs — but for every worker.

Key Issues:

Low wages despite high company profits

Unpredictable scheduling

Understaffing and workplace conditions

Retaliation against organizers

Outcome: Inspired a new generation of workers to organize, expanded the labor movement into retail and service sectors, and built solidarity with traditional unions.

AT&T Workers and CWA

Led by: Communications Workers of America (CWA) leadership

Workers at AT&T, represented by CWA, participated in strikes and labor actions affecting Memphis and the broader Southeast region. The fight highlighted the growing challenge of corporate outsourcing and globalization impacting local workers.

Key Issues:

Outsourcing of jobs overseas

Job security concerns

Rising healthcare costs

Fair wage demands

Outcome: National pressure campaigns led to contract improvements and increased public awareness of telecom labor issues.

UAW and General Motors

Led by: United Auto Workers (UAW) leadership

The UAW led major national strikes against General Motors with ripple effects impacting workers and supply chains connected to Memphis. The strikes showed the continued power of large-scale industrial unionism in shaping the American economy.

Key Issues:

Wage tiers and inequality

Temporary worker exploitation

Job security in the automation era

Plant closures

Outcome: Major national contract gains including wage increases, improved conditions, and set precedent for industrial labor fights.

IFF Workers and BCTGM — Memphis Manufacturing Fight

Led by: Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM)

Workers at International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) in Memphis, represented by BCTGM, engaged in labor struggles over working conditions and contracts. This fight represents the backbone of Memphis labor — manufacturing workers standing strong through union power.

Key Issues:

Wage fairness

Healthcare costs

Working conditions

Scheduling and overtime

Outcome: Strengthened union solidarity, improved contract negotiations, and maintained BCTGM's presence in Memphis industry.

"From factory floors to coffee shops, from telecom lines to sanitation routes — Memphis workers are still standing up, still organizing, and still fighting for justice."

Chapter 4

Mentorship & Leadership Roots

No leader stands alone. The leadership of Kevin Bradshaw was shaped and influenced by some of the most respected figures in Memphis labor history.

William Lucy, a legendary labor leader and co-creator of the "I AM A MAN" campaign, served as a direct mentor to Bradshaw — helping shape his understanding of labor, dignity, and the power of organizing. Lorenzo Banks, a 1968 Sanitation Striker, connected Bradshaw directly to the foundation of Memphis labor history.

David Dortch, Casel Jones, and former Labor Council President Irvin Calliste each contributed their own lessons in discipline, strategy, and commitment. Through their guidance, Bradshaw developed a leadership style rooted in community, education, and action.

Their collective influence instilled a deep respect for labor history, a strong commitment to worker justice, and the understanding that leadership is not given — it is developed through struggle, mentorship, and standing with the people.

Key Leaders

William Lucy — Legendary labor leader and mentor

Lorenzo Banks — 1968 Sanitation Striker

David Dortch — Influential labor leader and advocate

Casel Jones — Respected union leader and organizer

Irvin Calliste — Former Labor Council President

Kermit Moore — President Memphis A.P.R.I. & N.A.A.C.P.

"Leadership is not given — it is developed through struggle, mentorship, and standing with the people."

Chapter 5

Author Legacy & Memphis Labor in Action

Memphis labor history is not just something remembered — it is something that continues to be lived and fought for every day. Kevin Bradshaw stands as part of that ongoing movement, carrying forward the legacy built by the sanitation workers of 1968 and the leaders who followed.

One of the most defining chapters of modern labor struggle in Memphis took place at the Kellogg Company Memphis plant, where workers represented by BCTGM faced major battles that would shape the future of labor organizing in the city.

The 2013 Kellogg's Lockout

Led by: Kevin Bradshaw — President, BCTGM Local 252G

In 2013, Kellogg illegally locked out 226 union members at the Memphis plant during a contract dispute. Workers were denied access to their jobs for 10 months — no wages, no benefits, no insurance. It was a brutal tactic designed to break the union. But under the leadership of Kevin Bradshaw and the Local 252G leadership team, workers held the line. Bradshaw organized community support from politicians, the SCLC, NAN, NAACP, judges, lawyers, clergy, and international unions — taking the fight all the way to Capitol Hill. Workers returned to their jobs in August 2014 after a judge's ruling, proving that solidarity and persistence can overcome even the most aggressive corporate tactics.

Key Issues:

Illegal lockout of 226 workers

10 months without wages, benefits, or insurance

Corporate pressure to force concessions

Attack on collective bargaining rights

Outcome: Workers returned to their jobs in August 2014. The lockout gained national and international attention, strengthened union solidarity, and directly inspired the creation of C.O.P.P.E.R.

C.O.P.P.E.R. — Born from the Struggle

Led by: Kevin Bradshaw — President & Co-Founder

Out of the 2013 lockout came something lasting. The Coalition for the Organizational Protection of People and Equal Rights (C.O.P.P.E.R.) was co-founded by Kevin Bradshaw and a powerful coalition of Memphis community leaders, activists, and organizers. What started as a network of support during the Kellogg's lockout became a permanent organization dedicated to protecting workers' rights and fighting for equal treatment across Memphis.

C.O.P.P.E.R. Members & Affiliations:

Barbara Cooper — State Rep. 86th District

Raumesh Akbari — State Rep. 91st District

Greg Grant — National Action Network

Bishop E. Lynn Brown — C.M.E. Church

Lorenzo Banks — AFSCME Local 1733

Casel Jones — Memphis City Labor Council

Irvin Calliste — Int. Pres. USW/Memphis City Labor Council

Kermit Moore — A. Phillip Randolph Institute

Dr. Freda Williams — Professor / Former School Board Commissioner

Gale Tyree — AFSCME Local 1733

Dell Gill — Shelby Co. Democratic Party

Dr. Jesse Barksdale — Orange Mound News

Sheena Foster — Workers Interfaith Network

Henry Perry — Former Teamsters

Trence Jackson — BCTGM Local 252G

James Thornton — Community Activist

Rev. Dwight Montgomery — SCLC President

D'army Bailey — Former Judge

Evilina Warlix — General Motors UAW

Virgie Banks — President Democratic Women of Shelby County

Rev. Leonard Dawson — Cane Creek M.B. Church

Dr. Coby Smith — Community Activist & Educator

Coleman Thompson — Community Activist & Ex. Director

Kevin Bradshaw — BCTGM Local 252G

Outcome: C.O.P.P.E.R. became a permanent community labor organization in Memphis, uniting leaders across unions, government, clergy, and civil rights to protect working people and advocate for equal rights.

The 2021 Kellogg's Strike

In 2021, Kellogg's workers across the country — including Memphis — engaged in a major national strike that gained widespread attention. The company's attempt to expand a two-tier wage system became the central issue, with workers rejecting division and fighting for fairness across all levels. Memphis workers played a critical role by standing firm on the picket line, supporting national solidarity efforts, and representing the strength of Southern labor organizing. After 11 weeks, workers ratified a new contract guaranteeing no plant closures through 2026, wage increases, and a path from two-tier 'transitional' to 'legacy' pay.

Key Issues:

Two-tier wage system expansion

Job security concerns

Demands for fair treatment and better conditions

Outcome: The strike brought national attention to worker issues, pressured corporate leadership, and ended with a ratified 5-year contract with wage increases and no plant closures through 2026.

Through these struggles and beyond, Kevin Bradshaw emerged as a leader committed to defending workers' rights, strengthening union solidarity, educating workers on their power, and building connections between past and present labor movements.

His work extends beyond the picket line — developing labor education platforms, advocating for worker protections, engaging communities across Memphis, and leading within labor organizations.

From the sanitation workers of 1968 to the Kellogg's workers of 2013 and 2021, the message remains the same: workers deserve dignity, fairness, and respect.

"The fight didn't end in 1968 — and it didn't end in 2021. It continues every day workers stand together."

Closing Statement

Memphis did not just make labor history.

Memphis continues to live it.

From the sanitation workers who declared "I AM A MAN" to today's workers demanding fairness and respect — the fight continues.

And that movement continues today through every worker who walks a picket line, speaks up for fairness, and organizes for change.

"The labor movement in Memphis is not finished — it is evolving. And through leadership, education, and action, the legacy remains strong for future generations."

— Kevin Bradshaw

Standing on Their Shoulders

Community Elders & Visionaries

Some people shape your life not through titles or positions, but through wisdom, presence, and an unwavering commitment to building stronger communities. These elders have been a guiding force — sharing the vision, setting the example, and proving that real leadership is about lifting others.

Dr. Clifford Black — Educator & Founder, Super Learning Literacy Class

Dr. Carolyn Bell — Community Visionary & Leader

"Their wisdom built the foundation. Their vision lights the way forward."

The Movement Continues

Young Leaders Building Stronger Communities

The labor movement and the fight for stronger communities didn't stop with one generation. These young leaders are stepping up — organizing, advocating, and building the Memphis that working people deserve.

Keedran Franklin — Community Organizer & Activist

Antonio Cathey — Community Leader & Organizer

Richard Massey — Community Leader

State Rep. Justin Pearson — Tennessee State Representative

State Rep. Justin Jones — Tennessee State Representative

Britney Thornton — Shelby County Commissioner

State Sen. London Lamar — Tennessee State Senator

Tami Sawyer — Former Shelby County Commissioner & Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk

Rob Brown — Business Owner & Community Activist

"The fight didn't end with us — it lives on through them. And that's how we know the movement is strong."